Rivalry, not Fenway, new to Granderson

One of Yanks' newest additions eager to experience buzz

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

BOSTON -- When CC Sabathia made his Yankees debut last April, the lefty said he wasn't struck by the impact of the situation until he spotted Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada walking by his locker in their road grays.

As Curtis Granderson prepared to take his first regular-season batting-practice session as a Yankee, that moment hadn't yet arrived. In fact, the new center fielder has been struck by how welcoming the fans have seemed to be in Boston -- just happy that Opening Night is finally here.

"We were riding around in a bus that said 'Yankees' on it, and I didn't see certain displays that I expected to see," Granderson said. "There are a couple of things that I know are coming. They just haven't come yet. I'm just waiting to see when they come, where and how."

Granderson is the highest-profile Yankee experiencing the rivalry with the Red Sox for the first time, but it's not as though he hasn't patrolled the ancient ballpark's lush grass before, having come in previously wearing the uniform of the Tigers.

Smashing debuts

Home runs in first at-bat with new team since 2005

Player

Old

New

Opp.

Date

C. Granderson

DET

NYY

BOS

4/4/10

R. Belliard

WAS

LAD

ARI

8/31/09

B. Conrad

OAK

ATL

WAS

7/3/09

F. Lopez

STL

ARI

COL

4/6/09

D. Johnson

OAK

TB

BOS

9/9/08

C. Ransom

HOU

NYY

KC

8/17/08

R. Jorgensen

FLA

CIN

CHC

8/15/07

R. Branyan

SD

PHI

WAS

8/14/07

M. Morris

SF

PIT

CIN

8/4/07

L. Terrero

BAL

CWS

SEA

5/1/07

D. Erstad

LAA

CWS

CLE

4/2/07

Q. McCracken

SEA

CIN

STL

4/16/06

B. Arroyo

BOS

CIN

CHC

4/5/06

G. Gross

TOR

MIL

PIT

4/4/06

M. Piazza

NYM

SD

SF

4/3/06

F. Thomas

CWS

OAK

NYY

4/3/06

R. Petagine

BOS

SEA

ANA

4/3/06

M. Olivo

SEA

SD

PIT

8/3/05

J. Payton

BOS

OAK

TEX

7/15/05

P. Wilson

COL

WAS

MIL

7/14/05

K. Cash

TOR

TB

MIL

6/15/05

S. Fasano

LAA

BAL

CWS

5/15/05

R. Sexson

ARI

SEA

MIN

4/4/05

J. Cruz

TB

ARI

CHC

4/4/05

"I've played here before -- the game has been sold out before," Granderson said. "The intensity has been there, and both teams want to win. All of that stuff is the same. The one difference coming over as a Yankee is you have that respect from the fans that, 'Hey, we know your team is going to be good.'"

Getting immersed in the rivalry with the Red Sox is a rite of passage for every Yankee, and manager Joe Girardi likened the path Granderson is about to follow to the one that he pursued when he followed Joe Torre into the skipper's chair in 2008.

"I could sit in Joe's office as a coach and have an idea of what it was like to manage the New York Yankees," Girardi said. "But you really don't know exactly what it's like until you go through it. Those guys have probably seen, many times, the Yankees and the Red Sox play. But until you actually go through it, it's probably a little bit different than what you imagined."

Eighth may not be Joba's alone

BOSTON -- There is a good chance that if the Yankees hit the eighth inning on Sunday holding a lead against the Red Sox, manager Joe Girardi will put the ball into Joba Chamberlain's right hand.

But that is no lock. Girardi said that the setup role remains up for grabs, a continuation of the challenge that the organization sent to Chamberlain when he could not wrestle the fifth starter's job in a spring competition with Phil Hughes.

"Right now, our eighth inning is somewhat similar to what it was last year at this time," Girardi said. "No one has really claimed that spot. That's something that will work its way out -- the sooner, the better for us. You'd like to establish that role."

The Yankees also have right-handers David Robertson and Chan Ho Park, plus left-hander Damaso Marte, among those who could potentially handle the eighth-inning duties, and Girardi said that he does not want to use his relievers three days in a row.

Girardi added that Alfredo Aceves is available in relief after a spring bout with back stiffness. Marte battled a cranky left shoulder late in camp and would be a game-time decision based upon how he felt after playing catch on Sunday.

Yankees trio to set record as teammates

BOSTON -- The longest-tenured Yankees are still making history together.

When Mariano Rivera makes his first appearance of the 2010 season, he will join Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada as the first trio of teammates in MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL history to play together in each of 16 straight seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Jeter and Posada started in Sunday's season-opening 9-7 loss to the Red Sox, but Rivera waited uncalled in the visiting bullpen. That left the group tied with the 15-season trio of Jim Gantner, Paul Molitor and Robin Yount with the Brewers from 1978-92.

Jeter, Posada and Rivera have held the pinstriped honors for some time. The second-longest trios in Yankees franchise history played 13 years together -- Bill Dickey, Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing from 1930-42; and Whitey Ford, Elston Howard and Mickey Mantle from 1955-67.

Worth noting

Marcus Thames made the Yankees' Opening Night roster primarily because of his proven ability to hit left-handed pitching, but manager Joe Girardi said that he had not yet decided if Thames would be in Tuesday's lineup against lefty Jon Lester. ... Francisco Cervelli could be used as a catcher despite the Grade 1 strain of his left hamstring. He was scheduled to run on Sunday, but not do so at full speed. Girardi's tentative plan is to play Jorge Posada straight through at catcher to the home opener on April 13, with the Yankees enjoying several off-days. ... Hall of Famer Yogi Berra called Girardi on Sunday to wish the Yankees well. "I'll be watching," Berra told him.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.